John Robert Smith, 81, died on Sept. 14, 2023, at his home in Lampasas.
A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Lampasas on Oct. 14 at 11 a.m.
A private burial was held at Pattison Cemetery in Emhouse. Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel had charge of arrangements.
John was born on Nov. 16, 1941 in Corsicana to William Hamon Smith and Margaret Alice (Edwards) Smith. He grew up in Corsicana, as one of seven children in the family.
He graduated from Corsicana High School in 1960. After high school, John attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where he received a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering in 1964.
John began work for General Dynamics. In 1966, he went to work for NASA for 33 years and retired in 1999. During his time at NASA, John completed U.S. Naval SCUBA Diving School in order to train astronauts to be sent into space. He managed the building that housed the Space Shuttle & Space Station Training Facilities and Water Immersion Facility at Johnson Space Center in Houston. He also designed the Rocket-Cleaning Room for NASA at White Sands, New Mexico.
During his time at NASA, he met several dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip while they were on a state visit.
John married his high school sweetheart Judy O’Neal in 1963 in their hometown of Corsicana. They celebrated 60 years of marriage on Aug. 18, 2023.
Upon retirement from NASA in 1999, John and Judy left the Gulf Coast for Lampasas.
They have been active members at First Baptist Church and School Creek Baptist Church. John also was a member of Texas A&M Alumni Association, the USGA and the Singing Men of Texas-North Central Chapter. He loved singing praise to his Savior Jesus Christ and served as interim music minister at various churches in Texas and New Mexico.
John served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and on various building and personnel committees at several Baptist churches.
He enjoyed playing golf, dominoes and traveling to research his family roots. An avid reader, he was fascinated with history of the Old West and was a member of the National Outlaw & Lawman Association and the Wild West History Association.
John was preceded in death by brothers Charles Arthur, William Frederick and Joseph Ewing; and by a sister, Louise Smith Bunch.
He is survived by his spouse, Judy, of Lampasas; his son, Christopher John (Margaret) Smith of Forest, Virginia; his daughter, Molly O’Neal (John) Johnson of Copperas Cove; sisters Margaret (Bill) Robinson of Sunrise Beach and Jane (John) Dale of Brenham; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Texas Baptist Men Inc., 5351 Catron Dr., Dallas, TX 75227-9806; or The Singing Men of Texas-North Central Chapter at www. smonct.org.
